Early Years

Born in Ontario, Oregon, in 1949, Tom Browning has been painting professionally since 1972. Starting out with western and wildlife as a choice of subject matter, Tom worked primarily in black and white using a medium known as scratchboard. Learning to properly see values and creating such a convincing sense of light have been instrumental to Browning's success.

Now working primarily in oils, Tom's subject matter takes in a wide scope that knows no boundaries. Still life and figures, however, made up the majority of his work, and are always the subjects in his workshops that he taught around the country each year.

After attending the University of Oregon as an art major, Tom Browning almost immediately began selling and submitting paintings to galleries. As his interests in subject matter and medium continued to evolve, collectors continued encouragement by eagerly accepting his changing themes and directions. Now there are few subjects Tom Browning hasn't painted, but western, wildlife, figures and landscapes remain his favorites.

Santa Claus Art

Tom Browning started publishing his Santa images in 1985 with "Friendly Visit," which portrayed Santa Claus feeding some geese. In his book, Santa's Time Off, Browning presents the playful side of Santa after the work is done when he goes out with a few of the elves. Tom's unique Santa designs along with his painting style earned him the reputation as the premier Santa painter in the United States.Tom Browning originally published his Santa art under his own publishing company, at first called Santa's Time-Off, then Arbor Green publishers and finally today through the Tom Browning Collection.

Tom Browning has painted more than 150 delightful scenes of Santa since 1985. These designs are also licensed to manufacturers that feature them on many other products such as The Night Before Christmas children’s book by Sterling Publishing, figurines from Enesco, gift bags from Jean Marie and puzzles from Masterpiece Puzzles.

Franz Brown, a resident of Hot Springs, South Dakota, serves as Tom’s model for Santa Claus, the result of a long-term friendship. The two men became friends while working on an article featuring Browning for Southwest Art magazine. Browning asked Franz to do some Santa modeling for him. Franz liked the idea and has continued to work with Browning ever since. Franz is himself an artist and photographer.

Art Instruction

In 1994 his instructional book Timeless Techniques for Better Oil Paintings revealed yet another aspect of Tom Browning's talents — teaching. Since then, he has conducted oil painting workshops all across the country, and has helped and encouraged hundreds of eager-to-learn painters of all ages.

Western Art and Other Subject Matter

In addition to his Santa Claus work, Tom’s fine arts paintings often portray western scenes as well as women and children in rural settings of a by-gone era, such as harvesting pumpkins, picking flowers or chasing butterflies.

In 2009, Browning became the 31st recipient of the prestigious Prix de West Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. His painting now hangs in their permanent collection. Since becoming a member of the Northwest Rendezvous Group in 1986, Browning has been a four time recipient of judges’ merit awards, and in 1994 received an Award of Excellence from the NWR Group.

Tom is a member of the Portrait Painters Society of America, which chose him as a finalist in a 2000 competition in New York City, and has been a guest artist’s at the National Academy of Western Art and the Plein Air Painters of America. In 2009, Browning became the 31st recipient of the prestigious Prix de West Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. His painting now hangs in their permanent collection. He also was inducted into the Cowboy Artists of America in October 2009 and was awarded the silver medal for oil painting in 2010.He also participates in the Masters of the American West Exhibition at the Autry National Museum in Los Angeles. His work can also be seen at Insight Gallery, Fredericksburg, Texas; Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona; and Wilcox Gallery, Jackson, Wyoming.

About The Spirit of Santa

The Spirit of Santa features the best of Tom Browning's Santa paintings. His Santa Christmas Cards and Christmas Prints bring to life Santa's timeless warmth and humorous charm in a style that is itself timeless and treasured. It's hard not to smile at these original Christmas greeting cards and Christmas art prints of Santa Claus captured in his traditional role and enjoying his time off at the beach, golfing, fly fishing, cooking, and many other activities.

You can order all of the Tom Browning products through our website, or call 541-357-9732, email:kristensanta@gmail.com or fax 541-359-0434.